Established in 1971 as part of the worldwide response to rampant hunger in many developing countries, CGIAR (formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is today a global partnership that advances science and technology to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve health and nutrition, and ensure the sustainable management of natural resources. As the only international agricultural research body dedicated to meeting the needs of poor smallholders, CGIAR produces global public goods – including improved crop varieties, livestock vaccines, sustainable agroforestry and farming practices, and incisive policy analysis – that are freely available to all and adaptable to local needs and conditions.

Despite nearly 40 years of achievements, in 2009 - 2010, CGIAR initiated far-reaching reforms to respond more effectively to a changing world and emerging challenges and opportunities, including climate change, growing water scarcity, land degradation, the growing role of the private sector, and new donor demands. The resulting business model streamlines operations for greater efficiencies, is impact-oriented, fosters stronger collaboration, and unites investors in a multi-donor trust fund – the largest public vehicle for financing the agricultural research advances needed to meet the food security challenges of the 21st century.

The CGIAR Fund supports research carried out by a consortium of 15 international centers working closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society, academia, and the private sector, through CGIAR Research Programs. Before receiving funding, programs set out their expected achievements and provide targets against which progress can be measured and monitored, giving donors better value for money and ensuring that research leads to tangible benefits for the poor. The Fund is governed by a representative body of all Fund donors, which receives impartial advice from world-class scientific experts through an Independent Science and Partnership Council. In addition, an Independent Evaluation Arrangement commissions external evaluations to provide accountability, support decision-making, and share lessons for improving the quality and effectiveness of agricultural research for development.

Key assets and benefits of CGIAR

Critical mass of over 1,000 highly qualified scientists includes many global experts in their fields. Collaboration with diverse partners ensures that results are fed directly to policymakers, the private sector, farmers and other stakeholders to improve outcomes quickly and at scale. A Strategy and Results Framework sets out common goals and priorities to guide all research. The multi-donor trust fund provides reliable and predictable financing to enable long-term planning and pools resources to support big-ticket research that aims to deliver step change. Significant attention to dryland areas, as well as irrigation and water use efficiency, climate change and markets and institutions with strong ties to regional and national research institutions. Rigor is maintained through independent evaluation, impact assessment and scientific review. Genebanks safeguard the world’s largest and most diverse crop seed collections indispensable to future food security with genes that confer tolerance to heat, cold, drought, floods, pests and disease.

The reforms have led to impressive results, including the doubling of CGIAR’s funding to nearly $1 billion from 2008 to 2013, but CGIAR is determined to do more, and to do better, including making agriculture more resilient, high-yielding, climate smart and nutrition sensitive for the benefit of the poor and the planet.

CGIAR Centers Maize Rice

Africa Rice Center Roots, Tubers and Bananas

Bioversity International Water, Land and Ecosystems

Center for International Forestry Research Wheat (CIFOR) International Center for Agricultural Top CGIAR Donors Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) International Center for Tropical Australia Agriculture (CIAT) Belgium International Crops Research Institute for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Canada International Food Policy Research China Institute (IFPRI) Denmark International Institute of Tropical European Commission Agriculture (IITA) Finland International Livestock Research Institute France (ILRI) International Development Research International Maize and Wheat Centre (IDRC) Improvement Center (CIMMYT) International Fund for Agricultural International Potato Center (CIP) Development (IFAD) International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) India International Water Management Institute Ireland (IWMI) Italy World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Japan WorldFish Center Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand CGIAR Research Programs Norway Russia Agriculture for Nutrition and Health Sweden Aquatic Agricultural Systems Switzerland Climate Change, Agriculture and Food United Kingdom Security (CCAFS) United States Dryland Cereals World Bank Dryland Systems Forests, Tress and Agroforestry Grain Legumes For more information, visit Humid Tropic Systems www..org Livestock and Fish Policies, Institutions and Markets